Duong Van Ngo, a public letter writer at the Saigon Central Post Office

87-year-old Duong Van Ngo The last letter writer in the city, Ngo was recognized by the Vietnam Guinness Book of Records as the man who has spent the most time writing letters for those unable to write for themselves. Sitting at the end of a long wooden table at the Saigon Central Post Office behind a sign that says “Information and Writing Assistance” is a small old man whose daily work is translating and writing letters. He is surrounded by people who ask him to write letters in English and French. Ms. Ho Thi Hong of district 8, Ho Chi Minh City, was talking with Mr. Ngo about a package that she received from the US. Ms. Hong has been a regular customer over the past 3 decades. She said, “I have asked Mr. Ngo to write letters to send overseas since I was very young. He has done this job for dozens of years”. Although there are now a lot of translation centers in Ho Chi Minh City, many people still turn to Ngo to write overseas letters. Ms. Hong said, “Ngo knows well the writing style and ideas. Though many people know English, they are not really good at understanding and translating their ideas into a foreign language. Ngo has met a lot of foreigners during his school years. He is influent in both English and French”. Mr. Ngo says his working day starts at 8 a.m and ends at 3 p.m. He writes 5 to 7 letters… [Read full story]